Bottle-stopper.



Patented Nov. l2, 196|.

H. wAYTE.

BOTTLE STOPPER.

(Application led Mar. 28, 1901.)

UNrrEn STATES PATENT Genion.

HARRY VAYTE, OF WOODLAWN, ALABAMA.

ABOTTLE-ST0Penn.

SPECIFJICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 686,642, dated November 12, 1901.

Application led March 28, 1901. Serial No. 53,286. (No model.)

T0 a/ZZ whom, t maytconocrn.- A

Be it known that I, HARRY VVAYTE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Woodlawn, in the county of Jefferson and State of Alabama, have invented new and useful Improvements in Bottle-Stoppers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to bottle-Stoppers, and is especially designed for use in connection with bottles that are designed for holding medicines or other fluids that are to be applied through the medium of a syringe; and it has for its object to provide a stopper of the character referred to by means of which the syringe may be quickly and conveniently filled without spilling any of the liquid. It also has for its object to provide such a stopper which will be self-closing and effectually prevent the entrance of any air in the bottle, and, finally, it has for its object to provide such a stopper which is capable of bein g made at slight expense, may be quickly applied, is strongand durable,`and is provided with improved means for centrally locating the initial puncture made by the syringe and preventing said puncture from spreading or becoming unduly large,

To these ends my invention consists inthe features and Iin the construction, combination,'and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims following the description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specication, wherein-- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view showing a portion of a bottle with my improved stopper applied thereto, and Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the manner of inserting the syringe-nozzle in the stopper.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral l indicates a bottle having a neck 2, provided at its upper edge with a bead or laterallyprojecting flange 3, as is usual and customary.

The stopper comprises a cap 4 of uniform thickness throughout and formed of indiarubber or similar elastic material. As shown, the cap comprises a substantially cylindrical portion 5, that is adapted to tightly fit about the bottle-neck, and a crown or closure 6, that extends over the top or mouth of the bottle.

The central portion of the crown 6 of the cap is slightly depressed centrally and very slightly projects into the mouth of the bottle,

'forms an air-tight closure.

When it is desired to use the contents of 'the bottle, the point or nozzle of the syringe is inserted in the center of the annulus and pressed inward. The point or nozzle of the syringe punctures thecrown 6 of the cap and enters the bottle, and then by drawing out the plunger or piston of the 'syringe the latter is filled and may be withdrawn. Immediately on withdrawing the syringe the elasticity of the rubber causes the puncture to quickly and tightly close up automatically, and hence the contents of the bottle will not be exposed to the atmosphere. The syringe thereafter may be repeatedly inserted in thepuncture of the cap and refilled, the puncture each time the syringe is withdrawn immediately closing and excluding the air in the manner before described.

The annulus 7 performs a threefold function. It serves as a guide to center the nozzle of the syringe and indicate where to puncture the cap when first using the bottle and where to find the closed puncture in inserting the syringe afterward. A It also serves as a reinforce to prevent the puncture from being made too large or from spreading or the rubber cap from being split or torn. Finally, and this is of importance, it prevents the center of the crown of the cap from being stretchedl when the cap is drawn over the bottle-neck, and hence the rubber crown lying under the open center of the annulus will retain its more or less compressed state, and the puncture, therefore, will promptly close up after the syringe-nozzle is Withdrawn.

It will be obvious that instead of using the TOO nozzle ofthe syringe for puncturing the crown of the cap a pointed instrument of any suitable kind may be employed for the purpose.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A bottle-stopper comprising an imperforate elastic cap provided centrally on the upper side of its crown with an annulus of less elasticity than the cap, said annulus inclosing between its inner circumference the central portion of the elastic cap and operating to prevent the latter from stretchin g, substantially as described.

2. A bottle-stopper comprising an imperforate elastic cap provided centrally on the upper side of its crown with a fiat annulus, said annulus inclosing between its inner circumference a circular portion of the elastic 

